By Morgan Bryce
Editor
Organizers of the planned Four Children’s Library to honor the four child victims of the March 3 tornadoes are organizing a Christmas celebration that will be held at the Opelika SportsPlex on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jonathan Bowen, A.J. Hernandez, Taylor Thornton and Mykala Waldon are the names fo the four children whom the library will honor. According to Beauregard resident Robin Ashworth, who helped conceptualize the idea for the library, Four Children’s will be housed within a special memorial slated to be constructed on Providence Baptist Church’s campus that will not only honor the four children but the 23 victims who lost their lives on March 3.
“The library’s main goal of this event is simple. It’s their family’s and our community’s first Christmas without four of our beautiful babies,” Ashworth said. “But, this will be a Christmas party from them (through the Four Children’s Library) for their friends.”
Activities scheduled to take place during the event include a Christmas card and ornament-making stations, free popcorn, inflatables, live music in the afternoon from Opelika’s own Dallas Dorsey and other local musicians, petting zoo, reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” from Santa Claus and more. Admission is free, but visitors are asked to donate one of the following items: books, non-perishable food items or toys.
Food trucks and local vendors will be on-site for visitors looking for a quick meal or to get some Christmas shopping done. All children’s activities, however, are free.
The library will collect 100% of booth-rental fees and T-shirt sales. Food trucks and vendors will be able to keep all of their profits.
For more information about the event, like and follow the library’s Facebook page. The SportsPlex is located at 1001 Andrews Road.